St Petersburg city break guide

An insider's guide to St Petersburg, featuring the pick of the city's best hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and attractions, chosen by Marc Bennetts, our destination expert.

Why go?

To see first-hand the former Russian capital whose mysterious White Nights and winding canals inspired such literary giants as Fyodor Dostoevsky and Nikolai Gogol. Constructed from scratch out of marshland in 1703 by Peter the Great, as Russia’s “Window to Europe”, St Petersburg has seen more revolution, war and political intrigue in its 350 years or so than other cities witness in a millennium. This history is apparent at every turn, from the Aurora warship that signalled the start of the Bolshevik Revolution to the many reminders of the 900-day Nazi siege of the city that left around two million dead. When you’ve got your breath back, head to the legendary Hermitage art gallery.

Go to see first-hand the former Russian capital whose mysterious White Nights and winding canals inspired such literary giants as Fyodor Dostoevsky and Nikolai Gogol.

AP

When to go

White Nights, when the sun barely sets, last from around June 10 to July 2. For a real Russian winter, January is your best bet.

Where to go

No trip to St Petersburg is complete without a visit to the world famous Hermitage museum, which contains masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso and Rembrandt. A big art city, St Petersburg also boasts the splendid Russian Museum, which displays homegrown talents. Aside from art, St Petersburg is also full of fantastic architecture, from the psychedelic domes of the Church on Spilled Blood to the imposing façade of St Isaac’s Cathedral. If you get bored of art and architecture, take a walk down bustling Nevsky Prospekt, a sight in its own right.

White Nights, when the sun barely sets, last from around June 10 to July 2.

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Know before you go

All western visitors to Russia need a visa. Real Russia (020 7100 7370; realrussia.co.uk) offers a quick and easy service.

The basicsCurrency: Rouble.Telephone code: dial 00 7 812 for St Petersburg numbers from abroad. To make international calls from a fixed phone line in St Petersburg, dial 8, wait for the dial tone, then 10, then the country code, city code and numberTime difference: +3 hours (which means +3 from UK in winter, but plus +2 in summer)Flight time: London to St Petersburg is four-and-a-half hours

The Baroque-style Peter and Paul Cathedral: the final resting place of almost all of Russia’s pre-Revolutionary leaders, from Peter the Great onwards.

Alamy

Local laws and etiquette

Although things have improved greatly, Russian police are still notorious for shaking down foreigners for “paperwork infringements.” Carry your documents with you at all times.